Records for Tuam mother and baby home transferred to Tusla agency

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Tusla says records for the mother-and-baby homes in Tuam, as well Bessborough in Cork, and St Patrick’s in Dublin, have been transferred to the agency.
The child and family agency has confirmed it can make these available to the inter-departmental inquiry being established by the Minister for Children Charlie Flanagan.
Tusla, the independent child and family agency which is responsible for improving the wellbeing of children, confirmed this afternoon that 9 registers from 1921 to 1961, along with quarterly returns from county councils dating back to 1919 are in its possession.
The Chief Executive of Tusla, Gordon Jeyes, has said they have no problem in making these available to the interdepartmental review group set up by the government.
However he stressed the data is private, and is being held in trust on behalf of individuals.
Tusla plans to digitise the registers, but they will remain confidential – and will only be available to the inquiry,and to the individuals concerned.
Following a call for a statutory inquiry into the mother-and-baby homes – the Education Minister Ruari Quinn the facts should be assemble first – before a full independent investigation is established.